PALER, paler, day by day, br Waxeth wordless Eva Gray, br Wasting through the heart away! br br How shall those who wish her well, br Lift the shadow erst that fell br Round her from Love’s darken’d spell? br br Would they have her feast with Song? br Ah! its voices but prolong br Like far echoes Memory’s wrong. br br Would they to beguile her leisure br Sweet reliefs in music measure? br Music dreams of foregone pleasure. br br Would they lure her where the spring br Gives the unshadow’d heart to wing br Upward like a bird and sing? br br Still paler, paler, day by day, br Waxeth gentle Eva Gray,— br Wasting like a cloud away.